The next day.
Chu Xingxing was driven home by the Wen family’s chauffeur.
She’d been drinking with Grandma Wen the night before until late, and had forgotten to charge her phone.
Before getting in the car, she’d thought about charging it on the way, but the Maybach’s seats—which could recline completely flat like business class—were just too comfortable.
Wrapped in a little blanket, Chu Xingxing slept the whole way home.
When she got to her door, she was surprised to find her assistant, Abao, and her agent, Jiang Changsheng, standing there like two guardian deities blocking the way.
Behind them were a few workers in uniform.
Taking a closer look, she saw Jiang Changsheng holding a Tiffany-blue leather leash in his hand, and lying by his feet—a little Golden Retriever puppy wearing a matching blue collar?!
The puppy spotted Chu Xingxing and instantly perked up, wagging its head and bounding toward her. Jiang Changsheng almost lost his grip on the leash.
Chu Xingxing: “Tank! Is that Tank?!”
“Like I’d bring someone else’s dog here,” Jiang Changsheng said, a little awkwardly.
Chu Xingxing’s heart melted. She hadn’t expected to meet her internet friend so soon. She scooped up the little Golden and hugged it, petting it like crazy: “Oh my gosh, Tank, your fur is so soft! Why are your little hips so round? How can you be this cute! Come here, give Auntie some snuggles~”
Tank panted happily, tongue out.
If this little Golden could talk, it would definitely be yelling: “Snuggles! Snuggles!! Snuggle with the pretty human sister!!!”
“Where have you been? Your phone was off past your usual shutdown time, and you didn’t reply to WeChat either. I was about to call the police!”
Jiang Changsheng’s temper flared up as he grabbed Chu Xingxing by the shoulders and looked her over: “Don’t tell me you got held up, or kidnapped—why do you look so pale?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine! Look at Teacher Chu, she’s definitely been out…” Little assistant Abao quickly stepped in front of Chu Xingxing, saying with complete seriousness: “She must’ve gone for a morning jog—that tracksuit is obviously for running, or maybe she hit the gym.”
“No…” Jiang Changsheng frowned, catching a whiff of alcohol in the air: “You went to a club, didn’t you? And didn’t come home all night? Don’t forget you’re…”
He lowered his voice, holding back his temper: “You’re a female celebrity. What if you get photographed?”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Agent Jiang. Our Teacher Chu is very professional and knows her limits. There’s no way she’d go to a club and get caught…”
Abao was practically a mindless defender of her boss, though she hesitated and glanced back at Chu Xingxing, uncertain: “That’s right… right, Teacher Chu?”
“I didn’t go to a club. A friend was feeling down, so I stayed with her all night. My phone died.”
Chu Xingxing was amused by these two goofballs. She yawned, rubbed the little Golden’s head, and pulled out her keys to open the door.
“Come inside to talk. If we’re this loud in the hallway, the neighbors will think something’s wrong.”
“It’s nothing, nothing! All good here!” Abao said cheerfully.
Abao had her own slippers at Chu Xingxing’s place. She changed into her pink dinosaur slippers and carried a box of cameras inside, making happy little sounds.
The installation workers put on shoe covers and followed her in.
Jiang Changsheng didn’t have shoe covers, nor did he have slippers. And he was still holding the dog’s leash.
“Tank sheds a bit…” Jiang Changsheng bent down to hold the dog’s collar, standing at the door with the puppy, not entering.
“It’s fine. I ordered a robot vacuum online—it’s arriving this afternoon!” Chu Xingxing laughed and clapped her hands at the Golden, signaling it could come in.
Tank got the signal, its four little paws nearly slipping as it made a beeline for Xingxing. It was a perfect mutual rush—completely oblivious to the fact that its “dad” behind it was a little low on patience.
The dog might barge in without a care, but for Young Master Jiang, basic manners still applied when entering someone else’s home.
He took off his shoes and stepped inside in just his socks onto the cold tile floor.
“I came to get you set up with security cameras. Abao said you were worried about stalkers. I use this brand myself—just download the app, and I’ll show you how it works,” Jiang Changsheng said, a bit impatiently.
Abao puffed out her cheeks and said seriously: “Stalkers are really scary. Teacher Chu, you have to be careful from now on.”
“Is it really that bad?” Chu Xingxing held Tank close, unable to put him down. Though, honestly, she figured even a whole squad of stalkers wouldn’t stand a chance against her.
Still, to keep Abao from worrying, she agreed: “Alright, since you’re already here, go ahead and install them.”
Abao scurried off to talk to the workers: “Got it! I’ve got the most experience with this. Follow me, and I’ll show you where to set them up—this angle and that spot…”
“Download this app. I’ll show you how to use it.” Jiang Changsheng sat down next to Chu Xingxing.
No sooner had he sat down than Tank jumped onto the couch and wedged himself right between them, creating a clear gap.
Jiang Changsheng rolled his eyes internally. What a waste of food this dog was!
He stood up, planning to move to Chu Xingxing’s other side.
But Tank stood up too, watching him warily, ready to switch sides to keep anyone from getting too close to the pretty sister.
“Fine, Tank. No canned food for you today.” Jiang Changsheng gave Tank’s head a firm pat, pretending to be mean.
Tank let out a little “awoo,” finally settling down and lying quietly beside Chu Xingxing, his chin resting on his paws, big eyes looking up at her pitifully, silently accusing his dad.
Who could resist that?!
Certainly not Chu Xingxing.
She shot Jiang Changsheng a sharp look. Tank was this cute, and you wouldn’t even give him canned food?
If Tank were hers, she’d open a can every single day!
“Dad won’t buy you cans? Don’t worry, Auntie will buy them for you. Whenever you want canned food, just come to Auntie’s house.” Chu Xingxing whispered in Tank’s ear.
“Am I invisible? Tank is way too mischievous and needs strict discipline, and now you’re letting him on the couch too? You’d be the type of parent who spoils their kid rotten!” Jiang Changsheng scolded.
Chu Xingxing hugged Tank, both of them looking at Jiang Changsheng with the same pitiful expression.
Jiang Changsheng: “…”
You two get along so well—I might as well just give you the dog.
Taking a breath, he pulled out his phone and turned on the screen: “The security account has been registered. I sent the default password to your WeChat. Remember to change the linked email.”
“Oh.” Chu Xingxing copied the account and password, pausing when she saw what he’d set: “Cslxingxing730? What does that mean…?”
Jiang Changsheng’s ears suddenly burned. He looked away: “Nothing special. Just random.”
“Xingxing is my name. What’s Csl? Are those the initials of your name, Changsheng? And what do the numbers 730 stand for?”
Her curiosity piqued, Chu Xingxing leaned in and pressed him: “Come on, tell me, Agent Jiang.”
Jiang Changsheng felt his ears grow even hotter. He snapped: “I said it means nothing!”
“Fine, nothing then. So why are your ears and face all red? That definitely looks guilty…”
Chu Xingxing tilted her head, let out a “tsk,” and leaned back on the couch, saying slowly: “Never mind, I don’t want to know now anyway. I’m changing the password.”
Jiang Changsheng jumped up from the couch, covering his ears, fuming: “CSL stands for ‘Chao Si Le’—’annoying to death’! And ‘730’ stands for ‘Qi Si Le’—’mad to death’!”
“Oh.” Chu Xingxing blinked, apparently believing him: “Got it. I trash-talk you privately all the time too, so I’ll allow you to hate me.”
Jiang Changsheng’s eyes went wide. Hate you?
“Chu Xingxing, you’re going to be the death of me. One day, you’ll literally kill me!” The agent nearly choked on his own anger.
“If you die… what happens to Tank?” Chu Xingxing asked instinctively.
Watching Jiang Changsheng’s face go from red to white, and then to a dark shade of “black,” she realized she might have said something wrong…
“I mean—if you kick the bucket, your family would take good care of Tank, right?” Chu Xingxing tried to patch things up sincerely, while rubbing Tank’s belly.
The little guy had already rolled over in comfort, belly up.
Jiang Changsheng pointed at the “disloyal” Golden: “If I die, don’t you dare try to take Tank. He’s coming with me!”
“Shh…” Chu Xingxing quickly covered Tank’s ears, looking serious: “Don’t say that! The kid can hear you!”
Jiang Changsheng: Just end it all…
——-
After seeing off the workers and Abao, Jiang Changsheng ordered takeout for Chu Xingxing—the boat congee she’d missed at the Saci event, chicken wings with plum and tangerine peel, Typhoon Shelter shrimp, blanched choy sum, and some sweet soup.
While waiting for the food.
Jiang Changsheng came back from the balcony after taking a call from a partner.
He looked at Chu Xingxing on the carpet, cuddling Tank. “Do you really like him that much?”
“Of course I do. Why would I fake that?”
Chu Xingxing was playing with Tank on the floor. She looked up at him, her usually mischievous eyes soft for once: “Don’t worry, Agent Jiang. I’m not trying to take him from you. Tank plays with me because I’m like a new toy to him—same as with kids, the novelty wears off fast. He’s smart; he knows you’re his dad. I love him because I had a Golden when I was little too… but then something happened to it…”
She waved her hand, shrugged with a smile, and trailed off.
When Chu Xingxing got sincere, Jiang Changsheng didn’t know how to respond. He felt like he’d been too harsh again, that he should’ve just talked things through instead of exploding.
But sometimes, she was really infuriating…
He realized that the more time he spent with her, the more he seemed to adapt to her sass and her pushback?
Jiang Changsheng: Crap. Am I developing a masochistic streak…
He shuddered involuntarily.
The food arrived. Jiang Changsheng pulled a phone case out of his pocket and tossed it to her: “Our Tank is a star dog too. Since you like him so much, here’s some merch.”
“Pfft…” Chu Xingxing laughed. The case fit her phone perfectly, and on the back was Tank’s signature head-tilt wink!
She’d seen this photo on his Moments, liked it instantly, and saved it.
Ahhh, who could resist?!
“Thanks, Agent Jiang!” She immediately put the case on her phone, flashing a toothy grin at him.
“Try to act like a proper celebrity, you goof.” Jiang Changsheng pursed his lips, barely holding back a smile, and left with Tank.
He wasn’t about to tell her that this was a one-of-a-kind piece of Tank merch made just for her.
——-
Chu Xingxing felt the world was finally quiet again.
It wasn’t because the installation workers were loud, or because Abao was chatty, or even because Tank was clingy.
The main reason, it seemed, was Jiang Changsheng. He had a short fuse, blew up easily, and they were always bickering. Luckily, so far, Agent Jiang could take a joke.
She’d always thought she liked being around people, but now she appreciated having her own space.
After a shower and a good meal, she changed into comfy loungewear and settled onto the couch to continue reading the script for Ineffective Youth.
The audition was in two days, so she had two days to study the script and finish reading the original novel.
Thankfully, at the table read for Shining Flowers, she’d added screenwriter Feng Yunlan on WeChat.
Feng was approachable and said she could message her anytime with questions about the script or characters.
Chu Xingxing took her up on it—she really did “message” her a lot, with a whole list of questions.
Feng Yunlan didn’t reply right away, but seeing the thoughtful questions Chu Xingxing sent, she appreciated the young woman’s seriousness.
So late that night, Feng carefully answered each question, helping Chu Xingxing break down the characters’ psychology and motivations.
However, the script Feng sent was only a partial version. She and Director Wang liked to throw in a few “surprises” during auditions.
Chu Xingxing had no idea. She just kept thanking Feng.
Though she no longer lived in a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, when it came to work, she always gave it her full effort.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t feel right about the paycheck.
——-
Luxury penthouse.
Meanwhile, Tian Mengtong wasn’t relying on her past life’s acting skills to coast through the audition like she usually did.
She’d turned down all business commitments for the past few days, stayed home to study the script, and tried to overcome her psychological barriers.
In her past life, Tian Mengtong hadn’t auditioned for Ineffective Youth.
The film was the first production from Zin Capital’s entertainment division, so it wouldn’t have gone to CBM Entertainment’s own actors anyway.
But this time, because Chu Xingxing’s personality had changed, she hadn’t joined Let’s Travel Together, nor had she signed Chen Dong’s unfair contract and been cyberbullied into suicide.
These small shifts, like butterfly wings, had changed everything.
In this life, Zin Capital’s entertainment arm was acquired by Shengshi Group, making Shengshi the majority shareholder of CBM Entertainment.
So it was only natural for Ineffective Youth to pick CBM actors for auditions.
Tian Mengtong remembered clearly that Ineffective Youth was a critical hit that blew up after airing. The actress playing the younger version of the female lead even won the Best Newcomer award at the Orchid Film Festival, leading to a steady stream of quality offers and eventually becoming the youngest Orchid Best Actress in history.
In her past life, Tian Mengtong hadn’t gotten big-screen roles until her late twenties. Before that, she’d been stuck in sweet rom-coms, school dramas, and period pieces.
The entertainment industry had a rigid hierarchy.
Film actors and TV actors occupied completely different tiers.
And within that, serious film actors and idol drama actors were separated by an unbridgeable gap.
Tian Mengtong wasn’t much of a reader—she preferred scrolling short videos—so she hadn’t read the original novel and didn’t know the full story or the film’s adapted plot.
But she vaguely remembered how marketing accounts had hyped it in her past life.
The most standout roles were the younger versions of the two leads, because of the complex time-travel threads and multiple perspectives. Audiences would rewatch to catch the nuances in the young actresses’ expressions.
Film was different from TV; the big screen demanded precision, especially with powerhouse screenwriter Feng Yunlan and director Fang Anzhu—renowned for his storytelling—joining forces.
At first, Tian Mengtong had felt some resistance to the script because of her own past.
But after mulling it over for days, she decided to give it a shot. If she got the role, it would save her a lot of detours.
After days of working on the script, she believed she could convincingly play the bullied younger female lead.
To avoid affecting her mindset, Xiao Xiang—knowing the friction between Tian Mengtong and Chu Xingxing—specifically told her assistant and staff to keep things “under wraps.”
So, until she arrived at the audition location, Tian Mengtong had no idea Chu Xingxing would be her scene partner—the younger version of the female bully.
——-
Audition day.
The Ineffective Youth audition was held at SAP International School, which was also the film’s confirmed filming location.
It was spring break, so no students were on campus. Aside from an alumni event using the SAP auditorium, the rest of the grounds were empty.
Chu Xingxing arrived early—over forty minutes ahead of schedule.
Film auditions were flexible. Directors and writers might get new ideas and run long, or they might wrap up quickly if they weren’t satisfied.
Influenced by the grandmothers’ habits, Chu Xingxing believed in arriving early rather than late. She’d already done her hair and changed into the uniform.
Since it wasn’t her turn yet, she decided to wander around the beautiful international school and get familiar with the campus.
SAP was a long-established international school in the capital—the same one the Wen brothers had attended.
And the same school where Wen Nuan had been bullied.
The year after Wen Nuan transferred out, SAP underwent restructuring and board changes. Now, it was practically a different school from when Wen Nuan studied there.
Still, back then, Wen Xuelan and her husband had lost trust in SAP because Wen Nuan’s departure went unnoticed, so Wen Han didn’t attend.
Sheng Luzhi, Jiang Luoze, Ai Puxin, even the Jiang brothers and Tian Mengtong had all studied at SAP.
Chu Xingxing wore the custom-made white shirt with navy and red trim at the cuffs and collar, a pressed bow at her chest.
Her cardigan was navy wool, the shirt tucked into a pleated knee-length skirt that showed off her slender waist. She wore navy knee-high socks and brown leather shoes.
The stylist had put her hair in a high ponytail with curled ends, and added a navy ribbon. She looked every bit the refined, privileged heiress—proud as a little swan.
Script in hand, she paced outside the indoor volleyball gym, mouthing her lines.
The gym sat on high ground, next to SAP’s auditorium, with a viewing platform on the west side overlooking the entire campus.
The creatively designed buildings—color-blocked classrooms, a grand theater, a library shaped like a bamboo-woven dinosaur egg, age-specific athletic fields, and various dining halls for Chinese, Western, Japanese, and halal cuisine—all spread out before her.
Growing up in the apocalypse, Chu Xingxing had never seen such a “luxurious” campus.
She walked under a blooming cherry tree, leaned against the trunk, and looked up. Lazy patches of light scattered across her face and body.
She genuinely envied the kids growing up in this world. She hoped that once her contract with CBM expired, she might have a chance to return to school and experience campus life properly.
A somewhat grating voice broke the peace.
The casting director assistant for Ineffective Youth pushed open the volleyball gym’s back door with a bang: “It’s stuffy in there. Teacher Tian, you can step out onto the viewing platform for some air. I heard you also attended SAP for middle school?”
“Yeah, only for a year. Then I transferred.” Tian Mengtong used the script to shield herself from the sun, sounding impatient—clearly not wanting to continue.
The assistant didn’t catch on, chatting cheerfully: “That explains it. If you’d graduated from SAP, you’d probably be at the alumni event next door. My relative’s kid wants to get into SAP too—I was hoping to ask you about the school…”
“Which scene is Director Fang planning for next?” Tian Mengtong cut him off directly.
She was wearing the same uniform as Chu Xingxing, surrounded by her assistants. Her stylist had put her in a chin-length wig, making her look like an innocent flower.
Though right now, Tian Mengtong’s expression was anything but innocent.
“Director Fang and Screenwriter Feng usually play it by ear, so it’s hard to say. Probably about twenty more minutes before your turn.”
The assistant, naturally more afraid of offending the director, didn’t dare say more and hurried off with his walkie-talkie.
Chu Xingxing opened her eyes and casually glanced at Tian Mengtong from her elevated spot under the tree.
Then, without any surprise in her gaze, she looked away like she’d seen nothing and went back to her script.
If Director Fang wanted them to test a scene involving a “hit,” then that kind of hit was definitely the “slap” kind.
Chu Xingxing looked up again at Tian Mengtong’s delicate, soft face. Director Fang always pursued realism, and if she really had to land a few slaps…
Tsk, Tian Mengtong would probably end up crying her eyes out.
“Teacher Tian… Chu, Chu Xingxing is here too…” Tian Mengtong’s assistant said in shock.
Tian Mengtong stared at Chu Xingxing in the same uniform, with noticeably more polished makeup and hair, hardly believing her eyes.
“You’re here to audition too?” Tian Mengtong lifted her chin, trying to maintain her composure and not lose face.
“Yeah,” Chu Xingxing stood calmly under the cherry tree, smiling faintly: “You sound like I shouldn’t be here. What, is CBM Entertainment owned by your family?”
Tian Mengtong’s face went cold as she cut straight to the point: “Isn’t it natural for me to be surprised? We’re on completely different levels—you don’t even have a single decent project under your belt, and you’re asking me that? Before this, when have you ever outshone me?”
With the empty SAP campus and no one else around but her assistant, Tian Mengtong dropped all pretense and went for the throat.
Chu Xingxing looked up at her flushed face and laughed softly: “Teacher Tian, don’t worry so early about being outdone. Judging by how anxious you look, you’ve been losing sleep for days, haven’t you? It’s just an audition—no need to be so tense. Relax. And as for outshining you… we’re not even in the same lane.”
With that, she pulled out her phone from her uniform pocket and glanced at WeChat.
Abao was waiting in the green room and would call when it was her turn.
【Abao: Xingxing, the assistant director just said about half an hour. No rush—I’ll let you know.】
Tian Mengtong hadn’t expected such arrogance from Chu Xingxing. Just as she was about to retort, she spotted the phone case.
“…Tank?” Tian Mengtong blurted out.
It was the exact same design and color. In her past life, Jiang Changsheng had used it for years without ever changing it. Even when he switched phones, he’d custom-order the same case.
Back then, Tian Mengtong had admired the little Golden Retriever case and asked her brother-in-law Jiang Changsheng for one. He’d always indulged his family, but he refused this time, saying it was “his son” and he couldn’t give it to anyone else.
So how did the same phone case end up on Chu Xingxing’s phone in this life?!
Suddenly, it all clicked. No wonder Chu Xingxing’s resources had improved so fast—as if she could “predict the future.” She’d joined the seemingly doomed Grandma’s Journey that later became a hit, gotten cozy with the four grandmothers, latched onto Saci’s Jiang Luoze, and landed business deals and roles above Tian Mengtong’s tier—all because she’d hooked Jiang Changsheng!
In the previous life, Jiang Changsheng hadn’t entered the company this early. Tian Mengtong had always thought it odd, but now she understood why.
She’d always seen Chu Xingxing as a simple, naive big sister type who supported her brother.
Now, it was clear—she was a calculating schemer in disguise.
Maybe even her suicide in the past life was just for show, and she’d accidentally actually died.
Tian Mengtong let out a cold laugh: “Chu Xingxing, you’ve got it all figured out, haven’t you? I should’ve known. You’re with Jiang Changsheng—planning to be the little madam of CBM Entertainment? That’s why you asked if CBM was my family’s company. You were setting me up.”
She had to tell Jiang Chang’an about this.
The Jiang family was influential in the capital. If they knew about Chu Xingxing’s background, they’d never let their youngest son be with a woman like her.
“Ha?” Chu Xingxing looked shocked, then laughed in disbelief: “Who are you insulting? I’d date a little kid?”
And wanting to be CBM’s madam—shouldn’t that question be directed at you, Tian Mengtong?
Tian Mengtong didn’t believe a word. The resentment she’d been holding in for so long burst out, and she started running her mouth: “Stop pretending. You know exactly what your family situation is. When your parents came to school with your twin brothers asking for the money you earned part-time, they said—they told you to marry rich for your brothers’ sake, even be a mistress or a lover if you had to…”
“Teacher Tian, maybe that’s not appropriate to say…” Tian Mengtong’s assistant, a young girl, couldn’t take it anymore and gently interrupted.
Chu Xingxing lowered her gaze, her expression darkening.
Searching her predecessor’s memories, yes, that had happened.
She’d avoided dwelling on “Chu Xingxing’s” family memories because those people—their looks, their words, their behavior—were identical to her own family in the apocalypse.
As those memories resurfaced, she let out a cold laugh, her nails digging into her palm.
What difference was there between her predecessor’s parents and her own parents in the apocalypse? None. Their logic was the same. The only difference was that in this civilized society, they couldn’t literally “sell” their daughter. If not for her good grades—the only one in the family with a shot at college—they would’ve sold her off long ago.
They kept her around only to “fatten her up for sale.” Once she grew up beautiful, she could marry rich, or be a mistress—it wouldn’t be a loss; either way, she’d support the family.
Chu Xingxing shook her head: “Tian Mengtong, not everyone is born a pampered heiress like you. I can’t choose my birth family, and I can’t change my parents’ mindset. But I’ve never been their property. I’m an independent person. And you—you’re a girl too, and you used to be my friend. You knew the pain of my upbringing, and yet you use it to hurt me over and over. Is that what your ‘well-bred’ parents taught you?”
Chu Xingxing stepped away from the cherry tree.
Tian Mengtong was truly unhinged. Chu Xingxing remembered that in the original story, the female lead wasn’t this obsessive.
Maybe the author just hadn’t delved much into Tian Mengtong’s inner world, instead focusing on the romance plotline.
In short, Chu Xingxing couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. She was about to head back to the green room.
Just as she hopped off the cherry tree’s planter, she noticed a familiar tall figure standing diagonally behind Tian Mengtong and her assistant—and she had no idea how long he’d been there.
“Mr. Sheng?” Chu Xingxing paused for a moment: “What are you doing here…”
She didn’t address him by his full name in front of Tian Mengtong.
“Came for the SAP alumni event. Received a boring award.” Sheng Luzhi casually removed an honorary alumni pin from the lapel of his bespoke cashmere blazer.
A breeze stirred the cherry blossoms. Sheng Luzhi walked through that sea of petals and stood beside Chu Xingxing.
He calmly stood behind her, reaching out to brush a stray petal from her hair accessory: “Little one, my grandmother always said calling your own people ‘Mr. Sheng’ is awfully formal.”
Chu Xingxing could barely smell the cherry blossoms—they’d been replaced by the scent of vetiver coming from him.
“Sheng Luzhi, hello,” she said a bit stiffly.
The vetiver scent was really pleasant, but that feeling of unease was creeping back…
“Mm, hello.” Sheng Luzhi held her gaze with a smile, then turned to Tian Mengtong, his expression cooling noticeably.
Tian Mengtong’s face drained of color. Her breath nearly stopped, and her hands and feet went cold.
In the past life, Sheng Luzhi had driven the entire Jiang family into ruin. Heaven knew how much she and Jiang Chang’an had sacrificed just to regain their footing in the industry.
And the only reason Jiang Chang’an had eventually led his company back to the top, with Tian Mengtong by his side, wasn’t because they could compete with Sheng Luzhi—it was because he’d moved on to other sectors.
If Sheng Luzhi wanted to, he could snatch their “glory” away anytime.
“Miss Tian,” Sheng Luzhi’s tone was distant and cold: “It seems you consider yourself CBM’s biggest star? I wasn’t aware of that. I’ll need to confirm with Jiang Haidong. However, spreading rumors about a colleague’s personal life speaks to one’s character. Do you still think it’s appropriate to continue as a candidate for the Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador?”
Tian Mengtong bit her lip and said nothing.
Faced with Sheng Luzhi, she was instinctively terrified.
Her assistant didn’t know who he was, but she could feel the overwhelming pressure he exuded.
She stammered an apology: “I-I’m sorry, sir. Teacher Tian was just speaking in anger. She and Xingxing are good friends—it’s just a little spat between girls. Nothing serious…”
“Good friends?”
Sheng Luzhi smiled, then continued: “I may not have much experience in friendship, but even I can tell that Miss Tian’s one-sided ‘friendship’ isn’t something Xingxing needs.”
Tian Mengtong’s lips went white. Her script was crumpled where her nails had dug in. There was no point in arguing now.
This man looked like a refined gentleman on the surface, but Tian Mengtong knew exactly how ruthless he could be.
She’d even considered dropping out of the audition, just hoping he’d forget she existed.
The indoor volleyball gym door slid open, and the assistant director poked his head out: “Teacher Chu, Teacher Tian—Director Fang will start the auditions in ten minutes. Please head to the green room to prepare!”
“Oh my?” The assistant did a double-take, then immediately put on a polite smile: “Mr. Sheng! It’s Mr. Sheng, right? I saw you from afar at the reception when Zin Entertainment signed with you!”
“Hello.” Sheng Luzhi gave a slight nod, standing relaxed beside Chu Xingxing without any airs.
The assistant beamed: “You’re here for the SAP honorary alumni event, right? Thanks to Shengshi Group, our boss has been much more generous with us. We’re definitely going to make Ineffective Youth a success! Would you like to watch the audition? Should I let Director Fang know?”
Sheng Luzhi looked down at Chu Xingxing with a questioning glance.
Chu Xingxing gave a tight, forced smile—the classic “dealing with an adult” expression that kids use on their parents.
Heh… please no spectators…
Anyone else wouldn’t matter, but just imagining Sheng Luzhi watching her act made her unbearably self-conscious…
“I have other matters. No need to inform Director Fang,” Sheng Luzhi said, nodding at Chu Xingxing as a goodbye: “I’ll be going now. Break a leg.”
“Bye,” Chu Xingxing said, mimicking his nod, feeling pretty cool about it.
“Xingxing! We have twenty minutes to prepare. Let me take some shots of you under the cherry tree for the Vlog…”
Chu Xingxing’s assistant Abao came running from the back door of the gym with her phone, and immediately spotted Sheng Luzhi and Xingxing parting ways.
Abao: Whoa!!!
Hadn’t noticed before, but Mr. Sheng is so A!
Not many guys could hold their own against Xingxing’s strong A energy, huh?
I mean, double-A is also a great ship!!!
——-
Inside the audition room.
Director Fang, screenwriter Feng, the casting director, and producers sat in a row.
Fang and Feng exchanged a few quiet words.
Director Fang spoke up: “Tian Mengtong and Chu Xingxing—you’ve both acted in youth dramas before. I’ve heard from the company and your colleagues that you’ve studied the script thoroughly, so we’d like to raise the difficulty a bit.”
Screenwriter Feng said warmly: “For this scene, Shi Ying’s sister, seeking revenge for Shi Ying’s suicide, finds a way to travel back in time. But she ends up in the body of the bully, Ji Niannian. Meanwhile, the real Ji Niannian’s soul is trapped in Shi Ying’s body. Prepare for that confrontation scene. You have ten minutes.”
If the director and writer were saying this, it meant the hits would be real.
“Got it.” Chu Xingxing nodded, turned away, and closed her eyes to get into character.
Tian Mengtong hadn’t recovered from the shock of seeing Sheng Luzhi. She took several deep breaths before picking up her script and moving to a corner.
Director Fang and Screenwriter Feng exchanged a glance.
These two young actresses were both graduating this year and from the same school and company—they should have good chemistry. But it was odd that they weren’t discussing the scene together.
Both Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong looked the part perfectly. Even the producers were excited for this audition.
To ensure the actors gave it their all, Director Fang had the assistant pass along different “tips” to each of them beforehand.
The tip Chu Xingxing got: “Go all out. Real hits are fine. Teacher Tian’s team has agreed—she’s a pro, so no worries.”
The tip Tian Mengtong got: “The victim and the perpetrator are in the same body. You need to convey that internal conflict. Teacher Chu won’t go too hard, so don’t be afraid to push back.”
This scene in Ineffective Youth was one of the story’s key climaxes.
The female lead, Shi Ying, is a transfer student at a private international high school. The second female lead, Ji Niannian, is her classmate and the class beauty.
Ji Niannian initially wants the sweet and pretty Shi Ying to join her clique. But after a misunderstanding and Shi Ying’s refusal, Ji Niannian starts isolating and bullying her, eventually finding it “fun” to torment the defenseless Shi Ying.
Shi Ying’s parents are divorced, both have remarried and had sons, and neither cares about her or her sister Shi Sui.
Shi Ying and her sister Shi Sui, who is five years older, grow up depending on each other. Shi Sui drops out of high school to work, determined to get her gifted sister into the best school. She even becomes the mistress of a powerful man to afford the admission fee, always teaching her sister to study hard and succeed.
Bearing her sister’s hopes, Shi Ying endures the bullying all through high school without ever telling her, gets into an Ivy League school on a full scholarship, and leaves the country.
But she never returns. Seven years later, the local Chinese embassy notifies Shi Sui to come claim her sister’s remains.
In her diary, Shi Sui discovers that Shi Ying suffered from severe depression, had multiple suicide attempts, and had documented the bullying she endured at school.
That diary sends Shi Sui on a time-travel journey.
She travels back to Shi Ying’s high school days over and over, but ends up in different bodies—the bully Ji Niannian, a male classmate who secretly loves Shi Ying but is too afraid to protect her, the school doctor who knew but stayed silent to keep his job, a teacher who tried to help but was threatened by the administration, and a senior Shi Ying had a crush on who transferred away in her second year…
All these people appeared in Shi Ying’s diary.
Shi Sui travels again and again, but can never land in Shi Ying’s body. Instead, she pieces together her sister’s full story from all these different perspectives.
The scene Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong were auditioning was one of Shi Sui’s trips.
This time, Ji Niannian (played by Chu Xingxing) is actually inhabited by Shi Sui—the avenging sister.
And Shi Ying (played by Tian Mengtong) is actually possessed by Ji Niannian—the arrogant bully.
Shi Sui, in Ji Niannian’s body, confronts the “demon” Ji Niannian in Shi Ying’s body.
On the surface, it’s a catfight between two pretty high school girls. But the emotional intensity beneath requires deep character understanding from the actors.
Chu Xingxing had the script down cold. Xiaonuan’s story and that “revenge” night with Grandma Wen gave her a deeper insight than most. She was also grateful to Screenwriter Feng for patiently answering all her questions.
Once her emotions were set, Chu Xingxing opened her eyes and set down the script.
At that moment, she was no longer Chu Xingxing.
She was Shi Sui—here for revenge.
Hah, Tian Mengtong—wait, no…
Ji Niannian… your grandpa is coming with the legendary family slap!
